44
RORY
Layla’sheartbreaking wails kill me. “Sweetheart, I know those molars bother you. I’m so sorry. Try the teether again.” I put it against her lips, and she tosses it to the ground.
I sigh and keep pacing, hoping Jace comes home soon. I’ve been bouncing Layla on my hip for over an hour. I stare at the cold burgers I ordered for us, hoping he’d join me, but it’s long past lunch. I’m tempted to call Frank, but he didn’t sound thrilled when I rang him this morning.
“Get your umbrellas out this week,” the forecaster announces on the TV. “I hate to tell you this, Dallas, but brace yourself for sweltering heat, high humidity, microbursts of torrential rain, and hail.”
Great.
I move to the large window and stare at the thick, dark clouds looming in the distance. I pat the baby’s back. “Ladybug, I guess we need to look on the bright side. At least we’re in a hotel with air conditioning and not at some swampy fairground.”
She sniffles and leans her head on my shoulder. When she finally knocks out, I put her on the bed and surround her with pillows so she doesn’t roll off. She skipped her afternoon napand now it’s six. She’s going to be up half the night. I’d better brace myself for more teething issues.
I grab my phone, wanting to look up what I can do to mitigate her pain, when I get a text from Paige.
Paige: Here’s the info for that librarian job. Just in case!
Me: Thank you.
Do I want another librarian job? After the last few months on the road, I feel like a completely different person. Like I’ve gone through a trial by fire.
I still love books and helping people find great reads, but I think I gravitated toward that job because it helped me hide. The library was a quiet place where I didn’t have to talk to anyone except about books, and that felt safe to me while I regrouped after my breakup with Hayden.
I’d probably still enjoy it, though I don’t think I need it now the way I did then.
If I take that position, I obviously can’t go on tour with Jace. And I’m guessing this won’t be his last one. What would that mean for our relationship? Could we handle long distance?
Would I even want to do long distance?
I glance over at Layla, my heart aching at the thought of not being with her every day.
Maybe I don’t need to make this decision now. I’d like to discuss this with Jace and see what he says. We haven’t talked about what we’re going to do at the end of the summer. Would he want to move in together? Assuming he wants to still date. I mean, stay married.
Ugh, is this what people mean when they set their relationship status to “it’s complicated?” I get that now. Because Jace and I are complicated in ways I never thought possible.
As I nibble on my soggy, cold hamburger, I scroll through my phone. Since we got to the hotel, I’ve been slacking on mysocial media responsibilities for Jace, and I feel a little guilty, but Layla’s been a handful since yesterday morning. And before that, I needed time to spiral about the Cherry Smasher’s latest delivery.
And fine, I’ll admit I stayed off because I wasn’t ready to watch all the clips of Jace singing with Marlowe last weekend, but I should rip off the bandage.
The minute I get online, I’m greeted with reel after reel of Jace and Marlowe singing almost nose to nose. It’s painful to watch. They have great chemistry. She honestly looks like she’s two seconds away from scaling his body.
But now, with a little space, I can admit Jace’s intensity on stage isn’t because he wants Marlowe. He’s upset he was cornered into performing with her. That mollifies my irritation a little.
The comments are what you’d expect.
“Omg, they’re soooo hot together!”
“They’re totally fucking!”
“Holy shit, I’m pregnant from watching them.”
“Think they want a third? I volunteer for the throuple!”
It’s pretend, Aurora. They’re playing a part to sell concert tickets.See, I can do this. I’m okay.
But then I see today’s posts from Marlowe’s account. She tagged Jace in all three.
